Locked to Shoppers.
* Edward walks through the catacombs. He hasn't got a light, but somehow, he knows where he's going.
* Del is in a cavern lit by a dying fire that was once a man and a small aperature in the ceiling, lying next to her crutches, still very tied up.
* Edward eventually sees the firelight and follows it into the room.
* Del is on the far side of the fire, but she hears him come in and looks up, relief patently visible in her face. "Edward!"
Edward: Hmm? *he stops, blinking at her* Doctor Harbor? What're you doing here?
* Del struggles to sit up. "No time to explain, we have to get out of here before Augustus gets back."
* augie_home is now known as Augie
Edward: Augustus? *he looks around, then approaches Del* Did he do this?
* Del nods, turning so he can see her hands tied behind her back, and her bound legs. "Cut the ropes. Hurry..." She sounds like she's recovering from hysteria.
* Augie is standing in the doorway, whenever they notice. He's wearing his goggles and his longcoat.
* Edward makes short work of the ropes.
* Del doesn't see him, still in a hurry to get out of here. "Can you help me up? I need your shoulder..."
* Edward carefuly reaches an arm under hers, but seems transfixed by the remains.
* Augie says nothing, waiting.
* Del gets halfway to her feet and then freezes when she sees Augie.
* Edward notices this reaction* What is it?
Augie: Edward. You need to leave.
* Edward startles and turns, looking at him, wide-eyed.
Del: Drop him dead, Ed.
* Augie gives her an odd look.
* Edward 's expression goes blank, and he steps in front of Del, between her and Augustus, facing him.
* Del leans on her crutches, pulling herself the rest of the way up. "Edward, don't let him interfere."
* Augie tilts his head to the side quizically.
* Edward nods.
* Del 's eyes flick between them, and she heads for the exit.
* Edward follows after her, his blank gaze still on Augustus.
* Augie reaches out to stop Del. He's seen the boy in action. He's a pup, not a fighter.
* Edward , still staring blankly, swings at him, a frighteningly accurate strike.
* Del skitters back from the point of conflict, still moving towards the tunnels.
* Augie sees the movement from the corner of his eye and swings back around, knocking the blow aside, his forearm smacking against the flat of the blade. "Stay back! This has nothing to do with you."
* Edward wordlessly backs up another few steps, following Del and still keeping himself between her and Augustus.
* Augie narrows his eyes, reaching inside his jacket for a blade. "What did you do to him, Harbor?" Damned if he'd let her get away now.
Del: *Yeah, right, she's going to answer that. She's almost reached the tunnel*
* Augie tries to dodge around Ed, to catch Del and/or cut her off.
Del: Edward, keep him away from me!
* Edward swings again, aiming for the chest, positioning himself between Augustus and Del again.
* Augie is too close to dodge fast enough, and he takes the hit, swearing. He throws the knife, aiming for Del's head.
Del: !! *throws herself flat just fast enough to dodge it*
* Edward steps back and swings again, an upward strike*
* Augie curses! He recognizes the tactics as he attempts to block the blow with his forearm. The blade slices the leather too easily, Another knife appears in his hand, and he's switched his attention from Del to Ed. And he's pissed.
Augie: I don't want to hurt you, boy, but I will if you don't move...
* Del struggles back to her feet. This is hard.
* Edward still says nothing, staring blankly. He keeps himself between Del and Augustus, as close to her as he can.
* Augie flips the knife over, blade in his gloved hand. The hilt and handle is steel, as is the blade, and he throws this, aiming at Ed's skull. If it hits, it will hit with the handle, not the blade.
* Edward dodges but is clipped. He seems not to regard this.
* Augie watches Del, past Ed's shoulder. He ducks low and rushes the boy, attempting to get too close for the long blades to have room to swing and hit him.
* Del reaches the tunnel, heading back for the Sanct as fast as she can, hindered by the dark and the uneven floor of the tunnels, and trusting Edward to keep Augie back.
Edward: *The last person who rushed Edward ended up skewered and pushed out a third-storey window. He's a little more calculating now, darting back with a speed no-one thought him capable of, attempting to keep the other at range. He swings again, a flick across any outstretched limbs.
Edward: *
* Augie wishes, for this once, that it were his arms and not his legs that were cybernetic, all things considered. Still, he ducks, his arms shielding his face, cursing that he should have brought his sword, and the blade slices him across the upper arms.
Del: Edward, just knock him out and let's go! I need your help! *is having trouble in the dark*
* Edward takes a step toward Augustus, then suddenly spins, driving an elbow toward the side of the other's head.
Augie: *the sound is like a hammer hitting a melon. or something. and down he goes.*
* Edward steps back from him, following Del.
* Del makes a small sound of approval. "Come on." And just before they reach the Sanctuary... "Edward, what have you done?"
* Edward blinks... his eyes refocus. He looks at her.* What?
* Del slumps against her crutches. "Are you alright?"
Edward: Yes. Are you?
* Del nods, but she has a large bruise on her temple. "Just a little dizzy. But you..." *reaches up to touch where Augie's throwing knife hit Ed's head.*
Edward: What happened?
Del: It was Augustus. He attacked us.
* Del sits down on a rock ledge rather suddenly.
* Edward stares, looks back into the tunnel, then looks at Del again.
* Del rubs her head. "He knocked me out. I'm still dizzy."
Edward: Where is he?
* Del looks up at him. "Back there, somewhere.... We should get back to the Sanctuary."
Edward: *nods*
* Del rubs her head again before climbing back to her feet. "Thank you, for coming to get me..."
Edward: I was lucky...
Del: I'm sorry you got hurt...
Edward: I'm all right.
* Del reaches for his arm. "Just need an arm up, and let's get out of here."
* Edward lends an elbow, watching her as she stands up.
* Del props herself on her crutches, one of which has developed a distinct bend and a wobble while she was seated, and heads into the Sanctuary, waiting for him.
And what came later, back at the Shop:
Del is very late getting back, filthy and bruised, with the remaining dizziness of a concussion slowing her steps. She and Edward make their way slowly up to her lab-suite. Her expression is set and pale beneath the bruises, and she's trembling just slightly. One of her crutches is wobbly and bent, and she has to catch herself against Edward every few steps.